PREVIEW: Will King King's Alan Nimmo wear anything under his kilt at Sheffield City Hall?

Graham Walker, Digital Editor

Proud Scotsman Alan Nimmo will definitely be wearing his kilt on stage when his blues rock band King King play Sheffield City Hall - but will he be wearing anything underneath it?

It's the question all fans have wanted to put to him but few have been Braveheart enough to ask. Until now.

In an exclusive chat, ahead of King King's UK tour date at Sheffield City Hall ballroom - with special guest Dan Patlansky - on Sunday, May 15, we asked the the larger-than-life frontman straight up, what does he wear under his kilt on stage?

And the Glaswegian laughed out loud, as he simply teased back: "I'll leave that your imagination!"

It used to be the Bay City Rollers, of course, who attracted a clan of so-called Tartan Army followers. But now rock's shooting stars King King - who start their UK tour this week - are the one with followers turning up in kilts, hats, scarves, wrist bands and all the regalia.

Though Alan's big, growly singing voice - which belies his roots - sounds more like he's a blues rock god from California and it's easy to understand why King King are building a huge fan base. Take a listen and watch their in concert music video for new single Rush Hour, embedded on our YouTube player here.

King of the kilts Alan explain how his kilt wearing on stage all began, he said: "Years ago when we first started we got given a slot at one of UK's blues festivals and I thought I would put kilt on for a laugh and just se how it goes down.

"I've never been able to get rid of the thing since. I can't lose the kilt anymore, it's expected now.

"It's been a good thing in a way, because it's almost become the brand of the band. It's associated with King King now, so we are happy to keep it.

King King on UK tour

"We were in France the other week and on the front row was a French guy dressed in the full regalia, the kilt, jacket, sporran and the lot. We get legions of them coming along. In Belgium or Holland there was a bus load of them, all wearing kilts."

He added: "For those who have never heard us, we are what you would call a classic rock, blues, soul band - a four piece guitar, keys, bass and drums, in the genre of Free, Bad Company, early Whitesnake, along with Clapton and stuff like that.

"A good energetic show is what you get live."

Yorkshire fans will be able to judge for themselves when the Scottish party arrives at Sheffield City Hall - with special guest Dan Patlansky - on Sunday, May 15. For tickets and details visit www.sheffieldcityhall.co.ukAlan (vocals/guitar), Lindsay Coulson (bass), Wayne Proctor (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keys) have come so far, so fast.

King King

In just five years the Glasgow-based quartet now stand on the brink of their busiest period to date, promoting critically acclaimed third studio album, Reaching for the Light, and bringing the music to fans across Europe.

“Our schedule is so busy,” says Alan. “But you’ve just got to run with it.”

King King, in association with Planet Rock radio, kick off a nationwide UK tour at Manchester Academy on Thursday , May 12 - full details below.

They are going from strength to strength - they had two recent Planet Rock radio hit singles with Crazy and Hurricane, plus a recent nomination for Best New Band at this year’s Classic Rock Awards.

Third and latest studio album, Reaching for the Light, has been championed by dozens of music magazines and national BBC Radio 2.

King King were also were recently handpicked by rock superstars Thunder to open for them on their UK arena tour in February.

King King bringing their UK tour to Sheffield City Hall

It’s almost been two and a half years since the band’s all-conquering second album, Standing in the Shadows, established them as the leading exponents of the British Blues scene.

In 2014, King King won a total of five British Blues Awards, including Best Album and Best Band. The nods came from BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Jones to Classic Rock’s The Blues magazine. Their support slot on John Mayall’s 2014 UK tour, proved to be a game changer.

“We all want to take this band as far as we can,” says Alan.

“We want to sell as many albums as possible, and anyone who says they don’t enjoy five-star reviews is lying. Most importantly, we’ve got a great album that people can listen to and enjoy – and that’s what really matters.”

* Fresh off his UK and European tour with Joe Satriani, and one of Classic Rock magazine’s hotly tipped new artists to watch out for in 2016, support act is South African Blues rock sensation, guitarist and singer-songwriter Dan Patlansky

His album, Dear Silence Thieves, received non-stop accolades and praise from the British press. It was voted number one on Blues Rock Review’s Top 20 Blues Rock Albums of 2014. Things started gaining momentum after he opened for Bruce Springsteen in front of 64,000 people at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

He has just released his latest studio album, Intro-Vertigo.

KING KING MAY 2016 UK TOUR DATES

THURSDAY MAY 12: MANCHESTER ACADEMY. Tickets: £20. Buy in person at the venue at Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PR. Call the Box Office on 0161 275 2930 or book online at www.manchester-academy.org​ or www.thegigcartel.comFRIDAY MAY 13: GATESHEAD SAGE. Tickets: £20. Buy in person at the venue at St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR. Call the Box Office on 0191 443 4661 or book online at www.sagegateshead.com or www.thegigcartel.comSATURDAY MAY 14: GLASGOW o2 ABC. Tickets: £20. Buy in person at the venue at 300 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JA. Call the Box Office on 0844 477 2000 or 0844 478 0898, or book online at www.academymusicgroup.com/o2abcglasgow, www.ticketweb.co.uk, or www.thegigcartel.comSUNDAY MAY 15: SHEFFIELD CITY HALL. Tickets: £20. Buy from the venue in Barkers Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA. Call the Box Office on 01142 789 789, or buy online at www.sheffieldcityhall.co.ukWEDNESDAY MAY 18: GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL. Tickets £20. Buy from the venue at 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1NS. Call the Box Office on 0844 478 0898 or book online at venues.gloucester.gov.uk or www.thegigcartel.comTHURSDAY MAY 19: CRAWLEY HAWTH. Tickets £20. Buy from the venue at The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6YZ. Call the Box Office on 01293 553 636 or book online at www.hawth.co.uk or www.thegigcartel.comFRIDAY MAY 20: SALISBURY CITY HALL. Tickets £20 . Buy in person from the venue at Salisbury City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7TU. Call the Box Office on 01722 434 434, buy online at www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk or www.thegigcartel.comSATURDAY MAY 21: BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL. Tickets: £20. Buy in person from the venue at Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham. B3 3DQ. Call the Box Office on 0121 345 0600, or buy online at www.thsh.co.uk or www.thegigcartel.com

Support act is South African Blues rock sensation, guitarist and singer-songwriter Dan Patlansky

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